R-80 BOARD: Smith presents on MAP data, clean audit opinion

The numbers in the presentation he shared were from the 2020-2021 school year. In 2019-2020 there were no tests.

One important thing to note about MAP testing results in the two COVID-19 school years is that the results are not being utilized by the state to determine Annual Performance Report (APR) or to make decisions regarding staff.

“We haven’t had an APR in the state for two or three years,” said Smith.

Smith’s report outlines the decline of the achievements faced during COVID-19, “which is to be expected,” said Smith. The data that Smith shared also addressed the fact that students who have been able to maintain in-seat learning have scored consistently better than remote students.

According to Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), the data shouldn’t be used to make any high-stake decisions whatsoever—the information should be used to create plans about how to get students back on track.

Additionally, assistant superintendent John Smith presented on the school’s future plans for MAP testing.

In addition, R-80 received a clean opinion of school finances delivered by auditor Ken Schultz.

“The only unusual thing in the audit opinion would be the fact that since the pandemic continues to go on, we have a going concern qualification saying that it’s uncertain for basically everybody that we audit in the United States of America as to what the outcome will be,” said Schultz.

Schultz outlined the 57-page audit for the board.

“The audit went well, we had four auditors come in for two or three days and we got it done—we had good cooperation with everyone,” he said.

The board also briefly discussed a preliminary concept for the tin gym renovation project.

“This is just the basics to get it out to bid,” superintendent Dr. Lynne Reed told the board. “We can figure out the other details later.”

“The coaches really want it to be connected to the existing building,” she said.

Board member Steven Patterson voiced a concern about the project.

“I just really don’t think that it’s big enough for what it’s going to cost—I mean we don’t have a final cost,” he said. “But it’s like six-hundred-and-something-thousand—that seems excessive.”

“And then, the indoor facilities that I’ve seen for high schools are separate buildings,” he said.

The reason coaches want the building connected is to keep kids from having to cross the alleyway.

“This is not at all the final design. This is just a budget bid to find a contractor,” said Reed.

Reed brought up that teacher retention is an important focus. She pointed out that a possibility of a four-day school week might be something the board should look at in the future. “It was big on a rural school’s agenda the other day,” she said.

Reed also specifically brought up a sizable donation that Phil-Mart made this past week and a donation that Tod and Rose Kinerk made as well.

Also addressed at the board was the Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan (SRCSP) as discussed in the article on page 1A today and at thesalemnewsonline.com